Door bar latch

ABSTRACT

A door bar latch comprising a bar having a mounting member affixed at one end and a slot to receive a keeper at the other end. The mounting member is formed of a pair of hinged plates and is rotatably connected to the bar to permit the bar to pivot along two axes.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 688,747 [2/1901 McMiilen 292/281 2,] 83,834 l2/1939 Ferris 292/283 3,280,606 i0/l966 Howard 292/259 X FOREIGN PATENTS 602,633 5/1948 Great Britain 292/28l Primary Examinerlan A. Calvert Assistant Examiner Edward J. McCarthy Altorney-Fidelman, Wolffe & Leitner ABSTRACT: A door bar latch comprising a bar having a mounting member affixed at one end and a slot to receive a keeper at the other end, The mounting member is formed ofa pair of hinged plates and is rotatabiy connected to the bar to permit the bar to pivot along two axes.

IIIIIIHIIII PAYENTED JUUSIBH 3592,49?

sum 2 0F 2 M lytu DOOR BAR LATCH This invention relates to a bar latch for doors and other swinging closures and more particularly to a bar latch which when in use extends across a closure to prevent swinging movement ofthe door or closure.

The need for additional securing devices for closures is becoming increasingly evident as more and more crimes involving unauthorized entry are reported. Although the locks used on doors are being made more sophisticated, it is readily apparent that a door locked by itself is insufficient to prevent unauthorized entry. Therefore, the general public has turned to various types of auxiliary devices such as chain locks. door bolts, etc. Although many of these devices adequately perform their intended purpose there is a need for a heavier and stronger type ofdevice that will prevent any movement of the closure even though a large pushing force is exerted on the closure. Hand in hand with the need for a heavier type of securing device is the requirement that the device be made as unobtrusive as possible since aesthetic considerations will sometimes determine whether the correct securing device is used or not.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door bar latch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved door bar latch wherein the door bar latch is adapted to withstand heavy pushing forces on the closure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door bar latch wherein the door bar latch is mounted adjacent to a closure member in a relatively unobtrusive manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door bar latch wherein the bar latch is mounted to be moved with relative ease from latched position to storage position.

The above outlined objectives as well as other objects and features of the present invention are accomplished by a door bar latch which generally comprises a rectangular tubular bar structure adapted to be mounted adjacent a closure such as on a door jamb. The bar latch has a mounting member formed of a pair of hinged plates, one plate of which is rotatably attached to one end ofthe bar to permit the bar to pivot along two axes. The other end of the bar has a slot therein to receive a keeper affixed upon the other side of the closure.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view illustrating the door bar latch of the present invention mounted on door supporting structure and shown in solid lines in the latched condition and in broken lines in the storage condition;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 locking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view showing the mounting element in greater detail;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the mounting of the door bar latch on a narrow door;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the keeper to be used with the door bar latch of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the movement of the door bar latch from latched condition to storage condition and vice versa.

Referring now to the drawings in detail. where like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, reference numerals l0 indicates the swinging closure or door that is to be prevented from moving by the door bar latch. The door 10 is supported within a conventional frame and is mounted by conventional hinges on one of the frame members.

The door bar latch, generally referred to by reference numerals 12, comprises a bar 14, preferably of rectangular tubular metal, having a longitudinal dimension sufficient to extend across most existing doors. Although a solid bar could be utilized, a tubular bar is preferable from the standpoint of weight and strength as well as for the aesthetic improved values it provides as will be described hereinafter.

The bar 14 has a slot [6 adapted to receive a keeper 18 mounted on one of the door frame members. The keeper [8 has an eye member 20 adapted to pass through the slot 16 a sufficient distance to receive a T-shaped bolt 22 which will prevent movement of the bar 14 relative to the keeper 18. Although a T-shaped bolt is illustrated, it will be obvious that a padlock or other type of locking device may be used in conjunction with the keeper to assure locking of the door bar latch 12.

The door bar latch 12 is mounted adjacent to the door 10 by means of mounting member 24 comprising hinge plates 26 and 28 connected together by hinge pin 30 adapted to pass through the respective ears of each plate. Hinge plate 26 is adapted to be mounted by fasteners such as screws 32 on the door frame or wall adjacent the door ill on the opposite side of door 10 from keeper I8. Hinge plate 28 is adapted to be rotatably connected to bar 14 by fastening means such as rivet member 34. The use ofa tubular bar with open ends permits a rivet member to be utilized which adds to the aesthetic value of the bar latch since it is not necessary to pass fastening means all the way through the bar, which would be necessary ifa solid bar were utilized. As described, mounting member 24 is adapted to permit movement of bar 14 along two axes, namely, a vertical axis passing through hinge pin 30 and a horizontal axis passing through rivet 34.

In mounting the door bar latch 12, the latch is preferably held in the storage position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The mounting member 24 is rotated on the side of the bar 14 to position the hinge plate ears on the side of bar 14 away from the door and the hinge plate 26 is then fastened to the door frame or wall adjacent the door 10. The bar 14 is then pivoted about hinge pin 30 to place the bar [4 at an angle with respect to the wall or frame so that movement of the bar about rivet 34 will properly clear any obstacles on the door, such as a door knob. The latch is then rotated about pivot 34 to a horizontal position whereupon it is moved against the door with the slot 16 being positioned against the door frame or wall thereby indicating the position for placement of the keeper 18. If the closure is considerably narrower than the bar I4, then the latch is further rotated about pivot 34 to a position shown in FIG. 4. The keeper I8 is rotated until eye member 28 is at the proper angle to pass through slot 16. The circular base portion 36 of keeper 18 allows rotation of the keeper in a limited space if it has to be placed at an angle to conform to the angle of slot 16. The keeper 18 is then secured to the door frame or wall by suitable fastening means passing through openings 38 in the base portion 36.

The operation of the door bar latch will be obvious from the above mounting details. Referring to FIG. 6 with the door bar latch in storage position, the bar 14 is partially rotated about hinge pin 30, until it is at a sufficient angle to clear an obstacle such as a door knob. The bar is then rotated about rivet 34 to the midposition shown in broken lines. The bar is then rotated about hinge pin 30 toward keeper 18 until the eye member 20 enters and passes partially through slot 16 in bar 14. The T- shaped bolt 22 is then passed into eye member 20 and the door is then effectively locked. Reversal of this procedure will readily achieve return of the bar latch to its storage position.

It will readily be appreciated that various combinations of movements about the two pivot points will achieve the same desired results and that in many instances the bar can be simultaneously pivoted about both pivots.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Now that the invention has been described, what I claim as new and desirei o be secured by Let e's atent is:

l, A bar latch for use wth a sw nging closure comprising, a bar having a longitudinal dim ns on sufficient to span the closure said bar a one end having means to cooperate with a keeper affixed t a support adjacent to said closure. said bar at its other end having means for mountine, said bar adjacent said closure, said mounting means comprising a hinge member having a pair of h nge plates, one of said hinge plates adapted to be moun d on a supp t adjacent said closure, and fasten ing means for ro tably connecting the other of said hinge Dlates to said he whereby said bar is both rotatable about the hinge axis and the fes e ng means ar a, said o her of said hinge plates being connected to said bar adjacent one longitudinal s de of said bar only whereby said mounting means is substantially covered by said bar when said bar latch is in a mounted position.

2. The bar latch of claim 1. herein said keeper includes an eye member and sa d means on said bar for cooperating with said keeper is an openinq passing through said bar.

3 T e bar latch of cla m I, wherein said bar is form d of subs antially rectangular tubular shape and the fastening means rotatah-ly connects sai other of said hinge pl tes and one of the walls ofsa d tubular bar. 

1. A bar latch for use with a swinging closure comprising, a bar having a longitudinal dimension sufficient to span the closure, said bar at one end having means to cooperate with a keeper affixed to a support adjacent to said closure, said bar at its other end having means for mounting said bar adjacent said closure, said mounting means comprising a hinge member having a pair of hinge plates, one of said hinge plates adapted to be mounted on a support adjacent said closure, and fastening means for rotatably connecting the other of said hinge plates to said bar whereby said bar is both rotatable about the hinge axis and the fastening means axis, said other of said hinge plates being connected to said bar adjacent one longitudinal side of said bar only whereby said mounting means is substantially covered by said bar when said bar latch is in a mounted position.
 2. The bar latch of claim 1, wherein said keeper includes an eye member and said means on said bar for cooperating with said keeper is an opening passing through said bar.
 3. The bar latch of claim 1, wherein said bar is formed of substantially rectangular tubular shape and the fastening means rotatably connects said other of said hinge plates and one of the walls of said tubular bar. 